The National tribune., 1887-06-16

We continued To advance. wholly unsup-
ported. except on the left flank by the l4th
IN. which hy ihis time, having received the
concentrated fire of the entire nebel force,
was only equal 10 one good company. The
enemy IN our front was unable to withstand
the whitening fire we poured into them, and
fell back. the 93d steadily advancing. We
were suddenly astOunded by Taklng lire on
the right flank. where the rebels, having no
opposition in their front, stood fast, and,
owing To The thick bush, we were unable to
see them Af the proper moment they rose
aud poured into us destructive Noliey,
forcing az To retire 90 avoid capture, rs they
were already beginning 10 close up m our
rear Those whom We had been driving,
seeing our dilemma, CHARGED us and
POURED IE A GALLIEG FIRE.
Falling back, with orr ranks thinned
most feariully, we met The I'D Ohio-the
next regiment after the 93d lad. TO arrive,
fully 3 minutes behind us As an The case OF
the lllth III. and our own regiment IL
was sent immediately into battle single
handed agains, The entire rebel force, as the
two advance regiments were practically
hors-du-combat Soon il too was forced TO
fall back to line with our artillery. The
Maierhouse Battery Co. Il, LIST H. had
1nSt arrived alu gone mo ah4lHh.
Then followed the 95th Ohio and l0th
Mimi. Of our brigade. One at a time they
were brought to the front and whipped IN
detail Regiments numbering 400 TO 500
men in the morning had become reduced %
mere ba,talious of $50. Fully half the
command had for the time being ceased to
be available They had been cruelty and
uselessly sacrificed by the Commanding Gen
eral and at a time when common sense
alone should have dictated the outstanding
of has strength. HIS command was large
enough 10 have gone anywhere in that sec
tion, had il been properly led. Most of the
troops were veterans, and in his wagons
there still remained 10 days rations which
would have enabled him TO
HOLD A PICNIC
for that length of time in a section Of country
which was contributing OF it's substance IN
horses and men to the Coniederacy.
During the afternoon Gen. Bouton's Bri-
gade of colored troops became hOtly engaged,
and fought with GOODNESS and desperation.
Gen. Boui0n was twice captured during the
day and ~ Oiien retaken by has men.
About 4 o'clock Gen. Forrest had received
sufficient reinforcement 10 assume vigorous
offensive, and then the horrors which followed
really began, rs our troops were forced back
10 escape being surrounded. The large wagon
train with which Sturgis had sought 10
oVerawe the rebel force had so blocked
the roads that not more than six Of the 20
pieces of artillery were ever got into position;
in fact If any other battery than that OF our
brigade Warehouses; LIST H. escaped, i
failed 10 see IT,
The teamsiers became panic-striclIen, cut
loose from their wagons, and started pell-
NELL for the rear, and il must be admitted
that they were justified in doing so. The
retreat began about o'clock, and before AN
hour had passed ii
BECAME A RoUT.
Old veterans who had fought at Yicksburg,
Shiloh and jackson, now for the FIRST time
realized that their commanding officer was
unworthy OF their confidence. They had little
trust in him when they left Memphis and
certainly he did nothing afterward 10 inspire
confidence. IL is no stretch Of the imagina-
tiOn, think, TO assume that had Sturgis
been removed by kind Providence or some
other agency even after the retIeat began,
and Gnerson or any other officer placed ia
command, the lines would have been re-
formed aud victory won. As il was the
men, knowing they had done all that m0rtals
could do having used their last cartridge
before they gave an inch, and seeing their
ordnance stores and supply train in the
hands OF victorious enemy, with no rations
IN their havoracEs and Memphis $50 miles
away-the nearest point where supplies
could be obtained-felt that their safety de-
pended upon the rapidity of their move
ment toward Memphis.
Two miles to the rear the roadside was
streWn with shells and fixed ammunition,
which rendered il most dangerous to venture
of the main road. This was done to tighten
the weight of the gun-cairages, il still being
believed that the bulk oi the artillery could
be saved. When we reached the swamp a
scene of the
Widest CONFUSION AND HORROR
presented itself There, stuck In the mire.
were more than a dozen ambuiances flied
with wounded, bleeding men, their mOans
intermingled with curses upon whoever was
responsible for the blunder The ambulances
could moi be moved, and the guns were spiked
and left as a gift TO the Southern Confed-
eracy.
The night Of juno 10 was one Of horror in
describable. Forrest was following us with
vigor The cavalry had expended nearly all It's
ammunition, hut was of great service in pro-
tecting the fanks Men were so worn out
that yolley OF muskctry would scarcely arouse
them To add 10 the horrors the rain poured
down IN torrents. We arrived at Ripley carly
on the morning Of the Ilth, but with only a
mere skeleton of an army. The infantry halt
ed on a hill overlooking the town, aud attempt
ed 10 check the advance OF the exultant foe
who, clated with their easy victory, were more
bod Than was their won't and we, Of course
correspOndingly depressed We were without
ammunition and had had nothing TO cat since
The morning before Our stomachs were
CLAMoRING FOR FOOD,
but none was 10 be had. We could make lul
feeble show Of resistance. and were soon
nearly surrounded aud narrowly escaped cap
tHre; IN fact, the 72d Ohio did lose about 10,
men. Poor fellows! they marched all night
Through mud aud rain over roads through tht
woods that had to be felt for. as il was too DARK
20 see them. hoping thus 60 effect their escape
but were doomed at last 10 surrender and about
face and trudEe wcarily back over The same
road, driven by a cruel foe like animals rather
than brave men.
We scattered upon different roads each man
fOr himself in an endeayor 10 reach Memphis
aud outwit the rebels
Here let me insert thrilling narrative from
the pen Of j. w. S." a telegraph operator
who was with the headquarters OF Gen Stur
Gus on this expedition, aud from whose repo,'
have drawn some Of the preceding narFati sc
lie SAYS:
"As We halted at Ripley on the morning o
the nth Gen StnrPis called me aside aud said
You understand fully the situation Of affairs
Forrest has not only whipped us, but has cap
tured everything, and is following us mp; he i